Second man charged in Kishwaukee robbery

Friday

Oct 26, 2007 at 12:01 AMOct 26, 2007 at 10:06 AM

Police have arrested a second man in connection to an armed robbery at a private card game last week. The Oct. 16 incident ended in the death of Vaughn “Curly” Fitzgerald, who was shot and killed by police, who were responding to the robbery.

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Sadie Gurman

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Police have arrested a second man in connection to an armed robbery at a private card game last week. The Oct. 16 incident ended in the death of Vaughn “Curly” Fitzgerald, who was shot and killed by police, who were responding to the robbery.

Dustin E. Frint, 19, of Rockford was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with armed robbery. He is in the Winnebago County Jail on $250,000 bond. Tips to Crime Stoppers led to the arrests.

Frint and another man, Byron Starks, 34, entered a business at 3307 Kishwaukee St. armed with handguns and ordered a card players to lie on the ground while they took their wallets, cash and other items, police have said. When police arrived, Frint, who was masked and carrying a handgun and a duffel bag, ran from the business.

Starks tried to run, but was stopped by officers who told him to drop to the ground.

That’s when, police say, Fitzgerald, 80, emerged from the side of the business and shot Starks in the arm before turning his rifle toward officers Cheryl Buntjer and Jeffrey Oberts.

When he refused to drop his weapon despite the officers’ repeated demands, Oberts and Buntjer opened fire on Fitzgerald, killing him.

Police have not elaborated on the card game, nor have they said whether anyone will be arrested in connection to it. They also won’t say how much money was taken from the card players during the robbery.

Officials today said there’s a possibility of more arrests in connection to the incident, though Starks and Frint are the only two people in jail so far.

Staff writer Sadie Gurman can be reached at 815-987-1389 or sgurman@rrstar.com.